The Friouato cave, above Taza in the Middle Atlas, is one of the deepest open caverns in North Africa, and it is a proper day out rather than a photo stop. A concrete staircase of well over five hundred steps drops you into the shaft, and the galleries below open into chambers of stalactites and stalagmites the size of a church.
The drive east from Fez crosses the Taza gap, the corridor between the Rif and the Middle Atlas that every army in Moroccan history has used, with wide views over both ranges. At the cave you get helmets and lamps, and a local caver takes you down as far as you are comfortable going. The upper shaft is enough for most people, the lower galleries are for those who do not mind a scramble and some mud.
Afterwards there is time for the old medina of Taza with its Almohad walls and the great mosque, or the cedars and viewpoints of the Jbel Tazzeka road if you would rather stay outside. Wear shoes with grip, bring a layer, and expect your legs to know about it the next day.
Good to know before you book
- Length
- Full day
Highlights
- Vast underground chambers
- Stalactites and stalagmites
- Rocky galleries and corridors
- Mountain scenery
The route
- i.Pick-up at your riad
- ii.East across the Saiss towards the Taza gap
- iii.Viewpoint between the Rif and the Middle Atlas
- iv.Friouato cave: helmets, lamps and the descent
- v.The great chamber and the galleries below
- vi.Climb out and a late lunch
- vii.Taza medina and Almohad walls, or the Tazzeka cedars
- viii.Return to Fez in the evening
Included & not included
Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle approved by the Ministry of Tourism
- Certified professional driver
- Ministry-approved tour guide (English)
- Entrance fees, where applicable
Not included
- Meals and drinks
- Tips for driver and guide
Good to know
What does this include that the day-trip version does not?
A guide approved by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism with you throughout, and the site entrance fees.
Is the guide licensed?
Yes. You are welcome to ask to see the Ministry card at the start of the day — every licensed guide in Morocco carries one.
How much walking is there at the site?
Expect an hour or more on uneven ground, often in full sun. Tell us in advance if that is difficult and we will set the pace around it.
How hard is the descent?
About 520 steps down and the same back up, on damp stone. Not suitable if stairs are difficult.
